Follow the lights in Britomart and they will take
you to Ortolana, a well-established eatery under the cascading fairy lights, nestled between Bobbi Brown, Juliette Hogan and the likes. The building itself
is reminiscent of a barn; tall with a steep roof and trusses that hang in rows
with the icicle lights.
I had always walked past the shrubbery and
planting outside, caught a glimpse of the dining scene through the glinting glass
walls and thought it would be a dreamy vibe. So when Restaurant
Month came I leaped at the chance to try their 3 course menu for $40.
We were seated outside because the tables indoors
were fully booked. Under the heaters and draped under a blankets, we sat
cosily, watching the people pass and the tourists take photos next to the
leaves and huge potted flowers.
My dining companion tonight was feihae, who also
accompanied me to last year’s Restaurant Month at Odettes.
She’s a great friend; always full of vibrant thoughts, wisdom and humor; animated but not overbearing. Her stories and insight makes people stick around
for more.
And so we sat, from 5:30 til 9:30pm, one course
after another. Ortolana provided a great ambience for that. The lights and
leaves make you forget that you’re right in the bustle of the city centre.
They’ve done an excellent job to Britomart. What used to recently be a sparse
nondescript area at the bottom of Queen St has now turned into a hub of high fashion
retail, big name businesses and the place to wine & dine. It’s the best
example in Auckland of turning a place into a people-focused area. That’s what
land use can do, but anyway this is not a post on urbanism (more on that in my
other blogposts) so let’s get back to the food.
The short ribs was delightful.
Tender, flavorsome and hearty. Feihae definitely got the better dish out of the two of us. Upon first bite there was a lot of mmmm and ahhhh.
Gelato on a stick; salted caramel (left) and vanilla brownie (right)
We finished off with a glorfied Magnum. One vanilla brownie and one salted caramel.
My thoughts; the food was nothing glorious, it didn't create an urge to return in a hurry. But Ortolana is in a fantastic location for a chats over a well-presented meal to pass the night away. Bring a friend you haven't seen in a while or get your group together and try it for yourself... the menu is here.
Vikki Lane is tucked down an alleyway on Victoria Street West, towards the Vic Park end. It goes by the name 'Vikki Lane Bar and Kitchen'. Upon entering the bright little alleyway, one would think it was the 'bar' alter-ego tonight, with the upbeat mood and the smoke smell dominating the covered space. Turns out the crowd this Thursday evening came for the free wine tasting event. For a girl who describes wine as either "too bitter" or "that's nice", I did not help myself to a glass by the door, instead we were seated in a cosy corner for Restaurant Month.
The covered alleyway in Vikki Lane
The menu was easy enough to choose from. Eliminate the seafood from the options (dining with a fussy eater) and we were left with deep fried camembert and garlic bread for our entrees, and ham steak and chicken kiev for our mains.
St Clair Vicar's Choice, Malborough
A glass of bubbles arrived! This was exciting since this was included in the $25 set menu. I'm not sure if many other Restaurant Month menus include a drink in their price. About 45 minutes into our dinner I remembered the other reason why I do not enjoy alcoholic drinks; it makes me sleepy. Regardless, this makes the dinner very much worthy of $25.
Deep fried camembert with plum chutney
Deep fried cheese is great. The camembert came with plum chutney; tart and sweet enough to complement the savoury cheese, and a basic salad with marmalade. The serving came with three wedges, so it left the two of us fighting for the third slice. The kind of fight where you go back and forth "you have it/ no you have it" until we ended up making the effort to cut it 50/50. With a little more crispiness of the breadcrumb coating, I wouldn't have been so polite eating more than my share.
The presentation of the meals wasn't over the top; no sauce patterns, no flower toppings, no sculptures stuck in the potatoes. This is a bar and kitchen after all, and with that comes simplicity. But well executed, may I add.
Chicken kiev with waldorf salad
I'm not sure what a 'waldorf salad' is, but this breaded chicken was on top of a green salad that contained apples. Simple and tasty enough. My dining partner's plate however...
Ham steak with pineapple ring and potato croquettes
I wasn't polite this time. I had a taste of the ham and when the last piece was still on the plate after a long minute, I stabbed my fork into it. Fantastic, delicious.
The food at Vikki Lane left a good first impression, although I do note that these dishes are not part of their daily menu, so it's only available this August! If you're after an affordable dinner with bubbles to make things a bit fancy, I recommend this place.
The portion sizes won't make you undo your button, but with a comparably fair bill for inner city European dining, you can make allowance for dessert.
Saturday's lunch: bulgogi beef burger and pear and walnut waffles
The story behind this cafe is a unique and personal one. Emily and Aaron, the owners, are now engaged, but previously they were once strangers who got to know each other at a cafe. Their vision for their newly established eatery, appropriately named 'Once Strangers', was to create a social place; a space to talk, eat and enjoy each other's company over affordable meals. Every element you see has a story behind in; the menus, logo, table numbers, the feature wall.
Conveniently located in front of the bus stop on Symonds Street where Mt Eden Road and Khyber Pass Road buses converge (next to Gina's Italian restaurant) the cafe greets you with a welcoming airy glass frontage. The interior is bright and fresh, bustling on a Saturday afternoon.
The menu is one of those menus that you could spend 20 minutes trying to decide. Because, ooh the waffles! But ooh soft baked eggs? Yum I love pork belly. But the bulgogi beef burger...
Breakfast waffles; bacon, grilled banana, whipped cream and maple syrup $15
I love waffles. Not many cafes serve them, usually brunch menus only extend to pancakes and french toast. But there are two sweet waffle options and a savoury one here!
Pear & walnut waffles served with poached pear, walnut crumble,
whipped cream and caramel drizzle $14
It tasted as good as it looks. The waffles were the perfect texture; not crunchy and not chewy, the right crisp and fluffiness. My friend loved the poached pear and I loved the biscuit flavor of the walnut crumble although I prefer the bacon less crispy with the savoury option.
Pork belly bao bun with pear coleslaw $18.50
Bao is a Chinese style steamed bun that is ever so slightly sweet but the combination is delectable when filled with meat, vegetables and asian style seasoning. Once Strangers did it just right; soft and not at all dry. There are two options for order: spicy, stir-fried thin sliced pork belly or honey balsamic thick pork belly. For those of you undecided you can get one of each for $18.50 or a single one for $9.50. We were one of the undecided ones.
I have to say I'm not keen on pork but my friend who ordered it is, and he says the best one is the honey balsamic because it had a hint of sweetness that complemented the savoury pork flavor.
You know the food is good when you look up and there, across the table, is your friend eating with his eyes closed.
Bulgogi marinated beef patty, housemade potato rosti,
caramelised onion in a brioche bun with fries $18
The king meal for the hungry: bulgogi beef burger. The bulgogi beef is a korean BBQ style tangy sauce. It tasted absolutely amazing. The potato rosti (hash) was tasty and paired well with the caramelised onion and bulgogi flavor. It was a massive burger that you'll regret not finishing later. The fries were crispy and came with aioli (slightly too lemony, I thought). This burger is a definite winner and I'd recommend it without hesitation if you come here.
They had an extensive drinks selection, from acai smoothie to Vietnamese iced coffee. It's worth coming here even if you're not ordering food. They have affogato and a Kohu Road ice cream cabinet which you can buy in scoop or make into a milkshake. My friend is a coffee snob so when he says the coffee is good; the coffee must be good.
Kohu Road ice cream
Once Strangers' menu is their strength. There is a lot of variety that I imagine would satisfy almost everyone. Not too much variety in their cabinet mealwise, although the sweet slices looked unique and tempting paired with a coffee.
Cabinet food selection
What makes this cafe unique is their personalised touches.
The table numbers are made up of people's names who helped made the cafe what it is.
There are packs of personally made conversation cards on every table; blue to break the ice and pink for "date conversations". Or if you're here alone, there is free wifi!
Both my friends have said they want to make a second visit. With a menu variety like this and the quality of food we've had, I'm keen to go again. This is the place to go for your next brunch/ date.
Signed,
Elisa
Menu below taken from their Facebook page. Eat off each others' plates like I did if you can't decide what to order :p
Once Strangers
159 Symonds Street,
Eden Terrace
Auckland
HOURS | Tues - Fri 7-3pm, Sat 9-4pm
I've been wanting a bike for a few months. I need to get my legs moving and get fit, especially before my half-day ride across the Golden Gate Bridge coming up.
I wanted an entry level bicycle with a low-step frame, lightweight and does not rust as quickly. I will use it for riding around the park, running errands and taking on the ferry to Waiheke.
There were a lot of factors, which I was discovering after every browse.
Road or mountain?
Aluminium or steel?
Disc or brake pads?
Full suspension or hard tail?
It was a little overwhelming if you don't know your jargon.
I started off with an initial budget of $300, which turned out to be impossible. New bikes under $300 do not have gears, which is not at all ideal for Auckland riding.
Bike Barn had the cheapest bikes but the clearance ones did not have any stock in my size :( I am 164cm tall and fit a 17" bike.
So I looked at second-hand bikes but was discouraged after visiting a shop and seeing dirty, almost rusting bikes. Not worth the $300 investment.
Turns out The Warehouse sells bikes for less than $200! Only the bigger stores had some on display but I wasn't sure about the quality... Will "you get what you pay for"? Being not at all knowledgeable about mechanics, I didn't want to have to do some fixes later on or assemble it myself from the box. Besides, the customer service and knowledge at a bike shop is far better.
I finally decided to buy the Merida Juliet from Bike Barn. I also got a detachable basket, gel pad seat and kickstand.
It was a windy and chilly day when I rode it home so I took the train part of the way (also because I did not want to ride through Newmarket).
It is easy to take the train with a bike. There is a carriage specially for bikes, prams and wheelchairs. There were a few people taking their bikes too; adults and children. In Britomart, where the entry and exit to the station is above ground, there are large double-sided lifts which fits bicycles.
I also bought a GoPro Hero a few months ago! I bought it brand new on TradeMe for a very good price. So I take it with me when I ride. I find that it is a good incentive to ride further #doitforthevlog
Ride 1 Cornwall Park On a clear (but windy and chilly) day I rode around Cornwall Park for an hour and it was a leisurely ride. I am still getting used to changing gears quickly; something that will take practice. But I enjoyed it and rewarded myself with a coffee at the cafe near the rotunda afterwards. I saw two women with a selfie stick each and I asked one of them to take this photo of me. They were there for at least 10 minutes; same spot, different angles hahaha.
Ride 2 Waterfront The next day I took the train to Britomart with the intention of riding around my favorite place in Auckland; the Viaduct.
It was an amazing ride! The sun was out, although still slightly chilly with the wind, apparently it was 18 celcius.
I saw a lot of people young and old enjoying their city. Scooters, bikes, dogs, cameras and families were out in the sun. I was not the only cyclist, which was great to see!
I started with the train to Britomart, used the segregated cycleway on Quay Street (thanks AT) then around the Viaduct, behind Vodafone and KPMG buildings through to Westhaven Drive and the promenade. I went all the way to the bottom of the Harbour Bridge and back... Had lunch then back to the Harbour Bridge via Wynyard Quarter.
The Westhaven Promenade is gorgeous. It is a wide boardwalk right next to the water, a smooth flat ride and the view is stunning. I was there about a week ago on an evening photography course with Three Little Wishes. These are some shots I took.
In the evening it felt very romantic; slow stroll, holding hands to keep warm. In the daytime it had a high-class feel... Maybe because you can see right into the yachts and started planning a Sunday afternoon party wearing all white, sipping cocktails on the leather seats...
The cafe at the end of the promenade was open and the outdoor tables were occupied. Coffee with a stunning view. Around Daldy and Halsey Street, I picked out my dream apartment; the one with the glass wall balcony, spacious enough for an easel set-up.
In Wynyard Quarter I discovered love locks next to the silos. One of them said "we both swiped right". #2016lovestories
There was an old man busking. He had a skeleton puppet and made it dance and sing along to jazz music. Children gathered close to him, nose-to-nose with the swinging puppet (1:53 in the video below)
I got home five hours later, eager to repeat the route again soon.
Ride 3 North-western Cycleway This is mostly a commuter route, it is also a shared path so you will see joggers along the way. I rode up Nelson Street from Britomart. Unfortunately the segregated cycleway doesn't go all the way down Quay Street yet. But that turned out to be okay because the steep gradient forced me to walk part of the way. It was a good decision to do this on a Sunday, a lot less foot traffic.
On to the Light Path! The old Nelson Street motorway offramp which was constructed into a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians in 2015. Very wide path and high fencing to isolate you from the cars going 80km/h. The Canada Street bridge connected the off-ramp to Canada Street. In which a narrow section of the footpath was painted red to act as a warning for opening car doors/ cyclists. Another steep hill to push the bike up. From there, on to the North-western cycleway.
More wayfinding signage required along here. I almost ended up on New North Road before realising I wasn't next to the Western motorway, which was where I wanted to be.
Sunny sunny day. A few other cyclists and pedestrians sharing the path with me on a Sunday afternoon. A lot of it is next to the Western Ring Route construction. And a short section near Unitec is through a local road. There is a bike repair section along the way! How thoughtful, great work AT
I wasn't expecting it to be this scenic! There was someone kayaking in the harbour. It looked so peaceful despite being right next to the motorway and construction zone.
The cycleway currently ends at the Lincoln Road exit. By this point I had biked for 16km or so and it was almost 4pm. I didn't have bike lights or the energy to turn around and go back so I went to Henderson Train Station and took the train home.
Unfortunately my GoPro somehow did not charge properly the day previous. So I'll have to film this route another day...
Ride 4 to Mission Bay, Kohi Beach, St Heliers After the last ride, I took a hot bath in peppermint essential oil and then rolled my calves on a foam roller to help relieve the muscles. No pain the next day so I started looking at next routes to take before an upcoming week of rain.
This coastal route is perfect for mid-week exercise. Usually on sunny weekends, the central beaches are packed with people and so are the footpaths which are shared by cyclists. So when I went at 2pm on a Tuesday, there weren't as many joggers and children to dodge. I still should get a bell though.
It took 40 minutes from Britomart and the route is flat, so I managed to build up some speed and get my legs moving. What I didn't like about this route is that because there are parked card on the road, you really gotta watch out for opening car doors. And the tree routes make a bumpy ride. It was very scenic though and I managed to sneak in a coffee break at St Heliers end before rushing back to catch the train before it got too full for bikes. I think it could be improved by widening the shared path, because walking groups tend to overtake the whole width.
Okay that wasn't supposed to turn into transportblog, but there you go. Some easy routes to get you started. There is also a FANTASTIC Beginner's Bike workshop held every month in The Cloud. I went there and learnt how to repair a punctured tyre! They also teach you how to find a bike that is your fit. It is so awesome that they have events like these. I feel so encouraged to use my bike more often. I wish the routes were close to train stations though, it would make it a lot easier to get there.
Signed,
Elisa
next trip; Onehunga-Mangere and Devonport via ferry??
Third and final Restaurant Month dinner. This time it's Italian; my favorite cuisine. Accompanied by my baker and chef friend, Miss Shell for dinner on a work night (read about our cafe crawl shenanigans here, a fried Chinese cake, or a spontaneous Whoopie Pie trip).
Gusto is inside the Skycity Grand Hotel on Federal Street. And by grand, I mean GRAND. Probably the fanciest restaurant I've been to in terms of decor and ambience (Odettes comes next). It was opened by chef Sean Connolly, who also opened The Grill right next door. Just incase we dismissed that name when we came in, a bottle of olive oil on the tables with his name on reminded us that he's a prominent figure in the cuisine world.
$40 for 2 courses, which was actually 6 dishes for $40. Great value! All the photos were shared serving size between the two of us.
First course A (yes this was just one of 3 parts to the first course) Garlic, rosemary pizzetta with housemade ricotta, honey, pine nuts.
Loved it.
When the pizzetta arrived, it came in a little pizza box and I was confused; did we order to takeaway
And I wasn't expecting the ricotta to look like dessert; did we order a cake?
But the waiter made known to us the dishes as he placed it infront of us and then I could not wait to taste it.
The first bite of the pizzetta got us going "mmmm" "ahhhh" and "!!!!" very audibly.
Pictured above is the ricotta whose honey lent us its sweetness to contrast with the salty garlic pizzetta. I absolutely loved the crunch of the pine nuts along with the smooth cream-cheese-like texture of the ricotta.
It was a perfect balance of sweet and salty and smooth and crunchy. An absolute winner.
Unfortunately this was the only dish that was beyond amazing.
First course B Mozzarella, fennel, celery, walnuts
Excellent presentation. On the bottom of the stack is mozzarella followed by everything that tasted too sour, too much lemon.
First course C Rigatoni beef, lamb, tomato ragu, basil
A little while later came the final dish of the first course. Something more familiar, home-y and hearty.
For an Italian restaurant, it was surprising and disappointing to receive a pasta dish 1 minute premature of al-dente. Both Miss Shell and I cook pasta often, so it was the first thing we noticed when we took a bite.
Everything else was flavoursome though, just the slightly undercooked pasta that overshadowed it all.
After a carb-loaded first course, we felt quite full and there was hardly a break before the second course.
Second course Grilled snapper, pistachio, capers, preserved lemon, chilli. Beef brisket and salsa verde. Served with rocket, pear, parmesan salad.
After a delectable beef brisket at The Culpeper the previous week, I was excited when this arrived, looking tender and smoky. While it did have a great taste and texture, it was still nowhere near as good as The Culpeper's . Would it have been better with a pour-over sauce? We think so.
I also noticed this course is devoid of carbs, not that we minded, we were very full at this point.
Miss Shell did manage to eat the snapper before she retired from eating and found it fresh and not dry at all. I'm no seafood eater, so I take her word for it when she said a lot of places can tend to overcook snapper. She liked this one!
In the middle of it, she started telling me about the amazing dessert she had last time she came for a friend's birthday. I thought why not order dessert, it sounded exquisitely unique and because I won't return here anytime soon; the regular menu is beyond a regular girls' budget.
Gusto cappuccino, coffee custard, frangelico zabaglione $15
Don't judge this by its looks!
Get your spoon and dig in, crack the layer open to reveal the creme brulee that is underneath the cappuccino foam.
I've never seen, nor tasted, anything quite like it. The custard was cool but the milk foam on top was warm and my mouth was confused. But definitely order this if you're a coffee lover!
Bottom line:
Fantastic value for money; 6 dishes for $40 at a very formal restaurant. Looking at their usual menu, the snapper and beef brisket priced in the high $30s.
Presentation was average (apart from the mozzarella and fennel dish; which was my expectation from a restaurant like this).
